26	SEX GUIDANCE IN  FAMILY  LIFE  EDUCATION
knowledge of the work, interpretation of it to the
public, the meeting of criticism should it arise, the
silencing of gossip, the fostering of understanding,
confidence, and support of the work in the com-
munity.
An advisory council is, usually, an elective body,
chosen by the PTA and faculty vote, holds meet-
ings with the school authorities, and keeps itself
closely in touch with the active family life pro-
gram of the school, its procedures and policies, is
ready to interpret them when necessary. "Yes, the
children are shown films of embryonic life." "Yes,
they are breeding guinea pigs." "No, the boys and
girls are not together in the physiology classes/'
The members of the advisory committee arc
participating in the actual work of the program to
the same extent that any parent, by his teaching at
home, is a participant when a sex education and
family life program is under way.
Sex education projects have come to defeat In
many a school for lack of just such an advisory and
supporting council Under fire of public criticism,
no matter how ill-founded, a principal is inclined
to withdraw the work instead of educating his
community and enlisting its support, Sec edu-
cation is a growth process which demands that